JP2008513084A - Wireless ultrasound system display - Google Patents

Abstract

  The ultrasound imaging device includes at least one display physically separated from the imaging system, an ultrasound imaging system configured to control the scanner, and an ultrasound scanner. The system is provided to allow transmission of images from the imaging system to each display using IEEE standard 802.15.3. For example, the imaging system and each display may include a network interface card / video card that may utilize IEEE standard 802.15.3. The absence of a physical connection between one or more displays and the imaging system allows one or more as desired by the person performing the examination without the limitations imposed by the imaging system arrangement. The displays can be freely positioned.

Description

  The present invention relates generally to medical diagnostic imaging arrangements such as ultrasound imaging devices, and more particularly to ultrasound imaging devices including wireless displays.

  An ultrasound imaging device generally includes an ultrasound scanner positioned over a patient being scanned, and an ultrasound scanner that controls the ultrasound signals generated and received by the scanner and converts the received signals into images. And a main display on which the ultrasound image is provided. The main display is physically connected to the control unit, for example by a cable, and is usually located on or beside the control unit.

  One problem with conventional ultrasonic devices relates to the placement (positioning) of the main display and control unit. Since the sonographer (sonographer) must be located beside the patient and have a control unit within reach (with a main display connected to it), the control unit is also usually Like the sonographer, it is located beside the patient. Therefore, the sonographer has to repeatedly shift his display. That is, in order to alternately adjust the position of the scanner and view the image being formed, its head must be repeatedly directed from the ultrasound scanner positioned over the patient to the main display. This causes user fatigue. Furthermore, the display is positioned where the sonographer can easily see the above image, making it difficult for the patient to view the image at the same time if possible.

  In order to prevent imposing restrictions on the arrangement of the main display, it is desirable to allow the main display to be separated from the control unit.

  US 6440072 discloses an ultrasound image in which ultrasound examination data is transferred wirelessly from an imaging system to a small (portable) computing device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA). An apparatus is disclosed.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ultrasound imaging apparatus in which the display can be located at any position relative to the patient, user and control unit. Therefore, the display is not limited to a position on the side of the control unit or a position on the side of the control unit, and can be positioned at an ergonomically optimal position.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved system and method for wirelessly transferring ultrasound examination images from an ultrasound imaging device to one or more physically separate displays. It is to provide.

  In order to achieve these and other objectives, an ultrasound imaging apparatus according to the present invention is an ultrasound configured to control at least one display, scanner, which is physically separated from the imaging system. Includes an imaging system, as well as an ultrasound scanner. The system is brought to allow transmission of images from the imaging system to each display using IEEE standard 802.15.3. For example, the imaging system and each display may include a network interface card / video card that can apply IEEE standard 802.15.3. Due to the lack of a physical connection between one or more displays and the imaging system, the multiple displays can be as desired by the person performing the examination without the limitations imposed by the placement of the imaging system. It can be positioned freely.

  Thus, an ultrasound examination is performed on the imaging system on one side of the patient and the other side to allow the sonographer on the side of the imaging system to see both the patient and the display with a common line of sight. Can be done on the display. The sonographer adjusts the position of the scanner and does not need to change his head orientation when viewing the displayed image. This considerably improves the possibility of the sonographer performing the examination while reducing fatigue.

  In addition, other displays can be located within the network interface card / video card of the imaging system, including positions in front of the patient and positions that can be viewed by the patient. Thus, both the patient and the sonographer can easily view the ultrasound image on separate dedicated displays. Additional displays may be located in other rooms, such as a family member or a doctor's office for viewing by a doctor.

  The invention, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Here, the same reference numbers identify the same elements.

  With reference to FIG. 1, an ultrasound imaging apparatus 10 according to the present invention is physically separated from an ultrasound imaging system 12, an ultrasound scanner 14 coupled to the imaging system 12, and the imaging system 12. And a wireless display 16. Imaging system 12 includes conventional components such as processors, electrical and mechanical subsystems for controlling the use and operation of scanner 14, and in the form of keyboards, buttons, slider potentiometers, knobs, switches, and trackballs. Includes user interface components such as physical keys. The scanner 14 is typically positioned on the patient 18 during the examination.

  In accordance with the present invention, the ultrasound imaging device 10 receives an image configured in the imaging system 12 and generated by a processor in the imaging system 12 and converts the image into a wireless stream of data representing the image. Also included is a network interface card / video card 20 that transmits this stream of data. The wireless stream of data is received by a network interface card / video card 22 configured in a display 16 that converts the stream of data into an image and displays the image.

  The wireless coupling between the imaging system 12 and the display 16 allows a substantially unrestricted placement of the display 16 relative to the imaging system 12, the only limitation being the network interface card / It is in the range of transmission of image data from the video card 20. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the display can be configured on the opposite side of the patient 18 from the sonographer 24. Thus, the sonographer's line of sight (represented by the line shown at 26) includes both the patient 18 and the display 16, and thus is formed by alternatingly positioning the scanner as in a conventional ultrasound device. It is not necessary for the sonographer to shift his view from the ultrasound scanner on the patient to the display in order to see the image. On the contrary, in the present invention, the sonographer 24 can continuously view in the direction of the display 16, but at the same time can consider the position of the scanner 14 and the adjustments thereto.

  Power can be supplied to the display 16 through an electrical connection that provides an outlet that is separate from the main cart on which the imaging system 12 is configured.

  Since images must be transmitted with high bandwidth, wireless transmission of data representing continuously changing images is often a problem. This problem is overcome in the present invention by using the IEEE 802.15.3 standard that results in data transmission at rates of 200 and 400 Mbits / s in the range of 10 meters or less (about 30 ft). This standard is part of the so-called WPAN Personal Area Networks, a UWB ultra-wideband communication standard (UWB) that has a relatively high data transfer capacity at a frequency that does not interfere with the current technology. ultra wide-band communication standard). More specifically, the bandwidth includes 53.3, 55, 80, 106.7, 110, 160, 200, 320, and 480 Mbits / s, while the operating frequency is about 3.1 GHz to about 10.6 GHz in 122 subbands. (UWB) range.

  In one embodiment of the invention, the IEEE 802.15.3 standard applies the H.264 / AVC compression standard that has been used to transfer HDTV quality signals over the Internet. Will do. More details about the H.264 / AVC compression standard and the configuration of the network interface card / video card to which the standard can be applied to compress images by R. Schafer et al., Incorporated herein by reference. " The Emerging H.264 / AVC Standard "(EBU Technical Review, January 2003).

  An advantage resulting from the use of the IEEE 802.15.3 standard is that multiple wireless displays 16A, 16B, and 16C can be used in an ultrasound device 10A according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. Each display 16A, 16B, and 16C receives the same stream of data from the network interface card / video card 20 in the imaging system 12, and therefore displays the same image. In the case of multiple displays 16A, 16B, and 16C, one display 16A is configured to be viewed by the sonographer, the other display 16B is configured to be viewed by the patient, and the other display 16C is configured. Be configured to be viewed by another individual 28, such as a physician or patient family member, who may be outside the laboratory (but within the 10 meter transfer range of the network interface card / video card 20) Is possible.

  A wireless display and method for wireless transfer of images thereto according to the present invention has been described for use in an ultrasound imaging system, including MRI systems, X-ray systems, electron microscopes, and cardiac monitor systems. The same display and transfer method can be used with this type of medical diagnostic imaging system. Display and wireless transfer methods can also be used in home settings for transferring images to one or more televisions or computer monitors.

  The illustrated embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. It should be understood that various other variations and modifications may be effected therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 is a schematic view of an ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic illustrating the use of multiple wireless displays according to the present invention.

Claims (12)

An ultrasonic scanner,
An ultrasound imaging system configured to control the scanner;
An ultrasound imaging apparatus including at least one display physically separated from the imaging system, wherein each of the imaging system and the at least one display uses the IEEE standard 802.15.3. An ultrasound imaging apparatus comprising means for enabling transmission of an image from an imaging system to each of the at least one display.   The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means comprises a network interface card / video card configured for the imaging system and a network interface card / video card configured for each of the at least one display.   The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one display comprises a plurality of displays, each of which can be freely positioned relative to the other of the displays. Positioning an ultrasound scanner coupled to an ultrasound imaging system on the patient;
Positioning the first display at a location that can be seen by the person performing the test;
Transmitting an image from the imaging system to the first display using IEEE standard 802.15.3.   5. The transmitting step comprises configuring a first network interface card / video card for the imaging system and a second network interface card / video card for the first display. The method described.   The method of claim 4, wherein the first display is positioned in front of the person performing the examination with a common line of sight with the patient being examined. Positioning a second display at a position in front of the patient for easy viewing by the patient;
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: transmitting an image from the imaging system to the second display using IEEE standard 802.15.3. Positioning a third display in a separate room from the patient;
The method of claim 7, further comprising: transmitting an image from the imaging system to the third display using IEEE standard 802.15.3. Configuring an ultrasound imaging system on the first side of the patient;
Positioning an ultrasound scanner coupled to the imaging system on the patient;
The patient opposite the first side to allow a person to perform an examination from the first side while looking at the first display and the patient with a common line of sight towards the second side Positioning the first display on the second side of
Transmitting an image from the imaging system to the first display using IEEE standard 802.15.3.   10. The transmitting step comprises configuring a first network interface card / video card for the imaging system and a second network interface card / video card for the first display. The method described. Positioning a second display at a position in front of the patient for easy viewing by the patient;
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: transmitting an image from the imaging system to the second display using IEEE standard 802.15.3. Positioning a third display in a separate room from the patient;
The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting an image from the imaging system to the third display using IEEE standard 802.15.3.

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